Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, S.C. (MGGL) is one of Mexico’s foremost labour and employment law boutiques whose caseload ranges from high-profile disputes and collective bargaining matters, to the labour aspects of high-end M&A and corporate restructurings. The six-partner team is supported by more than 80 lawyers, allowing the firm to take on a huge volume of cases that constitute a substantial share of the market. Recent labour law reforms that prohibit insourcing/outsourcing contracts have been a significant source of work for the firm recently, given the numerous multinationals from a variety of sectors that feature on its client roster. The trio of Héctor González Graf, Santiago Marván Urquiza and Nelson Guerrero Robles co-ordinate the practice and all draw on a wealth of experience in the field. In earlier stages of their labour law careers are younger partners Emilio Israel Garzón Juárez, a strong litigator with experience of strategic advice to the pharmaceutical, health and retail industries; Cristian Jesús Lamas Peregrina, who has a similarly broad practice with particular niche expertise in the automotive sector; and José Genaro Pérez Velázquez, who leads the offering at the firm’s Guadalajara office. Among the aforementioned team of non-partner lawyers, associates Paulina Mendietta and Oscar Bojorge stand out.

Santamarina y Steta’s labour and employment team is ‘one of the most recognised in Mexico’ and its ‘excellent lawyers’ are some of the country’s best-regarded advisors for collective bargaining issues and designing union negotiation strategies. Union conflicts are a standout specialism and the team has recently seen plenty of activity assisting companies with rapid response mechanisms. The team is also well-versed in representation before the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the local labour ministries in several Mexican states. On the non-contentious side, the department works closely with transactional teams to support clients with M&A processes. Clients strongly endorse employment litigator Francisco Udave, who is one of four practice heads, along with Juan Carlos de la Vega, the firm’s Monterrey-based managing partner; Andrés Rodríguez, whose expertise includes legal audits focused on labour compliance; and counsel María Elena Abraham, head of the firm’s immigration law department. A further key contact is counsel Jaime Vázquez, who represents clients at all court levels, as well as in investigations.

One client of Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. credits its practice head Francisco Peniche’s ‘great experience and leadership’ with making its labour and employment group ‘an incredible team’. The department is a key component of the firm’s full-service offering and advises on all relevant issues that result from the transactional work handled by its market-leading corporate and M&A practice. The department houses specialists in union matters, harassment and discrimination, and social security, raising it above being a simple support team. Peniche is an experienced advisor to multinational companies and covers matters ranging from employment compliance, restructurings and hiring structures, to collective bargaining agreements and investigations. Julio Álvarez has a focus on the labour aspects of M&A, reorganisations, and both employee and executive compensation. The partners are ably supported by senior associates María Fernanda Pariente, who specialises in conflict resolution, and Rodrigo Espíritu Santo, an experienced counsel to finance and oil-and-gas clients. At the firm’s Monterrey office, senior associate Alicia Abúndez heads the sub-group dedicated to social security matters.

The ‘combination of extensive experience and excellent legal strategy in labour matters’ makes De la Vega & Martínez Rojas, S.C. a strong choice for complex labour and employment matters in Mexico. The specialist boutique is without doubt one of the go-to names for multifaceted matters relating to collective bargaining agreements, and for tricky negotiations with unions across the spectrum of sectors. In 2022, Audi was a new addition to the firm’s impressive client base of multinationals; the team inspires loyalty in much of its client base, having retained a number of them over decades. The group is led by its two founding partners: Oscar de la Vega Gómez, whose recent caseload has included negotiations to avoid major strike action; and Ricardo Martínez Rojas, whose four decades of experience includes employment contracts, collective conflicts, employment litigation and employee compensation and benefits. Other key contacts in the practice include collective bargaining negotiations’ specialist, José María Galindo; and Jimena Adriana Sánchez Argoytia, who is the main contact for compliance matters and is strongly endorsed by clients.

Hogan Lovells fields a ‘great team that combines experience and innovation’ in the labour and employment area; it is a trusted counsel to multinationals in sectors ranging from automotive and aerospace, to finance and food. The practice handles the gamut of labour and employment issues, frequently assisting with collective bargaining agreements, high-profile terminations, investigations, and employment benefits; moreover, as a key pillar of a full-service international firm, the department also works closely with the firm’s corporate and M&A practice. Luis Ruiz Gutiérrez and Hugo Hernández-Ojeda can draw on combined experience of over seven decades in the Mexican market, acting on consultancy and litigation, union negotiations, and social security matters. They co-lead the department with Mary Carmen Fuertes, who is experienced in handling the labour components when coordinating regional projects in Latin America. Counsel Luis Adrián Rosas Ortega is a key contact for labour litigation; while at senior associate level, Oswaldo Chávez Uribe and María Regina Torrero  provide key support to the partners.

Pizá Abogados is a labour law boutique that is structured in separate, specialised practice groups for consultancy and litigation in the area. On the consultancy side, internal audits, employment document reviews, compliance evaluation and risk prevention are all key components. Enrique Ballesteros Alvarado heads that sub-group and has been particularly active for finance sector clients recently. For dispute resolution, managing partner Gabriel Pizá is a specialist in individual and collective high-risk litigation and constitutes a reference point in the market for such work. Pizá co-leads the litigation department with Alejandro Díaz, an expert in amparo trials and their procedures before collegiate courts and the Supreme Court. May 2022 partner appointment Pamela Bello Zárate is a name to note for risk prevention and human resources counsel; while at associate level, Susana Flores Verlón and Fernando López Soriano are the key contacts.

Sánchez Devanny’s labour and employment group has strong relationships with the in-house legal and human resources departments of major domestic and international clients, and acts on complex cases involving union negotiations, as well as ongoing day-to-day issues such as employment agreements, terminations, and fringe benefit planning. The practice has a robust litigation arm, and the firm also supports clients on immigration matters. Practice head Alfredo Kupfer-Dominguez has broad experience across the corporate and labour areas, and is instructed on core labour and employment law matters, as well as being the firm’s go-to lawyer for relevant support to M&A and other transactional matters. Senior associate support comes from the firm’s satellite offices: in Queretaro, Fermin Lecumberri-Cano and Sebastian Rosales-Ortega act for national and foreign clients, with Rosales-Ortega being in charge of individual and collective litigation in the Bajio region. Monterrey-based Francisco Garcia-Lerma left the firm in April 2023.

For companies operating in the industrial, manufacturing, mining and maquiladora industries, EC Rubio makes for a robust choice in labour and employment law, where it advises a host of multinationals doing business in Mexico. Assisting with USMCA labour compliance is one of the team’s standout strengths, and while the practice is dedicated to day-to-day advice that shields its clients from conflict, it also houses labour litigation capability for cases brought to court. Javier Canseco has deep accumulated know-how in investigations and compliance, with experience acting for Fortune 500 companies. Canseco co-leads the practice alongside Perla Arreola, whose broad practice includes litigating individual and collective employment suits, administrative labour law, executive employment agreements, benefits, union relations, and the review of collective bargaining agreements. Ana María Becerra covers preventative aspects of the practice area, while Roberto Alvarez-Malo frequently represents local and foreign companies in the courts on labour disputes, as well as being active in union negotiations. Eduardo Cortes, Alma Oviedo, and Elisa Cortés are the associates to note.

Labour law boutique Ferran Martinez Abogados is warmly endorsed by its clients, who recommend the ‘exceptional service‘’ from ‘a diverse team that, although young, has extensive experience in labour matters’. The team advises on the labour elements of projects from start to finish, encompassing consultancy as well as potential litigation. Since its inception in January 2020, the firm has handled a wealth of enquiries regarding Mexico’s most recent employment reforms; specifically, those related to outsourcing, holiday provision and remote working. Its launch at the height of the pandemic not only meant a busy market but also spurred a technology-focused approach to counsel that is a hallmark of the practice. Practice head and managing and founding partner Carlos Ferran Martínez is dedicated to assisting multinational companies with consultancy, labour restructurings, compliance, and social security matters. He is aided by José Alberto Sánchez Medina, who was raised to the partnership in April 2023.

In August 2022, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC upgraded its labour and employment law offering with the hire of Rafael Vallejo, formerly practice head at Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa. Counsel Adrián Castillo (from De la Vega & Martínez Rojas, S.C.) was a further addition, along with three associates, thereby increasing the breadth and depth of the ‘agile, efficient team’ considerably. The department stands out for its experience in workforce restructurings as a result of M&A and joint ventures, advising on employee implications and transfers, as well as carrying out due diligence procedures and providing employment advice on commercial expansion. The practice also has capabilities in collective bargaining agreements, social security matters, and labour litigation, among other segments. Vallejo has joined the department as practice co-head, alongside Rodolfo Trampe, who advises a number of Fortune 500 companies. Senior partner Javier Lizardi is a corporate and M&A partner with labour law experience and a focus on the pharmaceuticals sector. Associate Alejandra Arizpe is recommended by clients and supports on a broad swathe of labour and social security law issues.

Clients of Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa appreciate its ‘non-traditional outlook’ and the ‘deep level of knowledge’ of its practice head Mayeli Cabral. She has taken over leadership duties for the team following the October 2022 departure of Rafael Vallejo . The practice is fully integrated with the firm’s international trade and tax practices, and thus has a particular strength in restructurings and organising foreign companies’ operations in Mexico. Cabral is an expert in labour risk management and also assists with labour litigation, where Juan José Soto is the main contact. At associate level, Gabriela Farias, Fabiola Lazcurain, and Denise Lechuga are the names to note.

Gerardo Valencia coordinates the labour and employment work at Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C., whose recent slate of work has had a focus on labour law compliance with Mexico’s international trade agreements. Other market segments on which the practice is frequently engaged include, due diligence on transactional matters, industry-specific compliance regarding employee relations, on-site health and safety conditions, and collective negotiations with national unions. The firm’s broad client base in this area has seen recent additions in both the IT and automotive sectors.

The ‘attention, professionalism and specialised knowledge’ of Greenberg Traurig, S.C. is brought to bear on labour and employment strategies for a wide ranging client base in Mexico, be it for day-to-day running of the company or relating to transactional matters. The practice is also active in dispute resolution, focusing primarily on conflict prevention but with capability and experience in labour law litigation. The practice is jointly led by Leslie Palma, who has vast experience assisting clients with the transfer of employees and standardisation of benefits; and Marité Villanueva, a name to note for union negotiations regarding large-scale layoffs. The practice heads are supported by associates Jorge Andazola and Karla Copka. Since publication, Jorge Andazola left the firm.

In support of its market-leading corporate team, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C. fields a labour law team with capabilities on both the contentious side and the consultancy aspects of the sector. The practice acts for clients in general labour litigation as well as amparo cases, and has an active alternative dispute resolution component, while also focusing on conflict prevention and proactive union negotiations. For transactional matters, the team is experienced in labour and employment due diligence, and also advises US law firms if they have enquiries on Mexican labour law on their clients’ behalf. Practice head Claudio Jiménez de León is an advisor to national, foreign, public and private companies on the full range of labour and employment matters, from consultancy to individual and collective litigation, and appeal proceedings. He is supported by July 2022 partner appointment Rodrigo del Valle, who frequently assists with workforce restructuring post-M&A, and with compensation structures for high-level executives, compliance strategies, collective dispute resolutions and employee transfer processes. From a deep pool of associates, Francisco Cisneros is noted for his expertise in individual disputes.

Sainz Abogados is frequently instructed on contentious labour law matters that range from litigation to the termination of unionised employees. The team is also active on labour due diligence processes and other matters relating to transactions, and is also the counsel of choice for various companies regarding their day-to-day navigation of the employment regulatory landscape in Mexico. Alejandro Nila leads the department and is primarily focused on the labour strategy and social security aspects of the practice. Associate Omar Zayas concentrates on litigation and other contentious matters, as does fellow associate Marcela Bojorge.

Gonzalez Calvillo’s labour practice has a particular focus on compliance and litigation matters, and regularly supports clients on risk assessments to identify existing or potential labour and employment issues. The firm is retained by a variety of multinational and domestic companies for day-to-day labour law advice, and has recently seen a notable increase in its fintech client base. Luis Enrique Cervantes, who was made partner in January 2022, co-leads the department with corporate law expert and managing partner Jorge Mondragón. Senior associates Fernando de Buen and María Paula Boustani are further names to note.

The labour and employment practice at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego is appreciated for its ‘very high quality’ service and is the trusted counsel of a number of international companies for day-to-day advice and labour law compliance. Jaime Rodriguez Eguiarte collaborates closely with the firm’s corporate law team and is also a seasoned litigator so can transfers those skills to conflict avoidance in employment law. Rodrigo Diaz Martínez is the associate to note.

The ‘multi-expertise’ labour offering at Monsalvo Duclaud acts across a broad range of matters, from consultancy and social security matters, to labour litigation and union negotiations. Clients include leading domestic names in a variety of the country’s biggest markets, as well as multinational companies. Key contacts in the team include: co-managing partner Luis Monsalvo Álvarez, who focuses on compliance for foreign investors; fellow co-managing partner and head of social security, Alan Duclaud Ampudia; high-risk collective and individual conflict specialist Luis Monsalvo Valderrama; consultancy practice head Isabel Pizaro Guevara; Lidia Monsalvo Álvarez, who works on constitutional appeals; and Andrés Cámara Pérez, who is also social security partner.